YOU can’t help but wonder what’s happening on our roads if four kids die at the hand of motorists day after day…
You wonder if people no longer learn road rules before getting licenses or they simply buy them at a butchery somewhere.
Yes, you heard that right, four kids on their way to and from school die daily. This is according to the Road Accident Fund (RAF).
RAF said that in the last five years, 1 288 school kids aged five to 19 have died on the roads, which is approximately four deaths a day and over 100 monthly.
In a statement, RAF indicated that from 2019 to 2023, 60% of the fatalities involved kids who lost their lives in car accidents as pedestrians, 36% were passengers, while cyclists and drivers accounted for 2% each.
“The Road Accident Fund therefore urges all road users to do an introspection about their attitude towards road safety and take conscious steps to save young lives,” read the RAF statement.
“Car accidents are often caused by mindless acts such as focusing on your mobile phone, eating while driving or crossing over a solid line.”
Parents and guardians are urged to educate and demonstrate to their children the correct and courteous way of crossing roads and be on the lookout for reckless drivers.
RAF CEO Collins Letsoalo said 88% of all road crashes are due to human factors.
He said the fund will continue educating, creating awareness, and advocating for the responsible and safe use of the roads throughout the year.
“The fund works with local traffic departments to provide the necessary training and monitoring of Scholar Patrol volunteers. The program aims to increase road safety awareness among school-going children and reduce crashes involving this target group,” he said.
